Review Of The 2022 World Cup, Netherlands Vs Qatar: Host Must Guard Gengsi

Qatar national team (Twitter @QFA_EN)

The host of the Qatar World Cup was quickly eliminated from this tournament and at the end of his journey still had to face a strong Dutch team at the Al Bayt Stadium which was likely to further quench them.

The hosts have been very disappointing even though they have been preparing for years. They became the first country to be knocked out of this tournament or less than a week since the tournament kickoff.

First gave up 0-2 to Ecuador and then 1-3 to Senegal last weekend, the Asian Cup winner looked awkward performing on the World Cup stage.

When they slumped in the first match, their graph even worsened differently than most other Asian teams who were no less qualified than the world's strong teams.

Iran even rose to defeat Wales after being demolished 6-2 by Britain, while Japan and Saudi Arabia had already created a surprise in this tournament. Likewise, Australia, which rose to defeat Tunisia after being attacked by France 1-4.

العنابي يختتم استعداداته لمباراة غد💪🔚#كلنا_العنابي #قطر2022 pic.twitter.com/dcJuUzIRhW

— الاتحاد القطري لكرة القدم 🇶🇦 (@QFA) November 28, 2022

Compared to other Arab countries that recently fought each other in the Arab Cup, Qatar seems to be below their class.

Especially when compared to Morocco, which is the third country to create a big surprise at the 2022 World Cup after overthrowing Belgium's second place with two goals without reply.

Now Qatar is facing a match that is far from light to face the Dutch who have the potential to prolong their shame.

Qatar is the second host of the World Cup after South Africa to stop at the group stage. What they hope now is to make the same achievement as South Africa in 2010 by defeating France in the final match of the group phase which reduced the disappointment of their country.

The Netherlands have always wanted to finish at the top of their group and they can still do it, especially coach Louis van Gaal has ambitions to bring the Netherlands to the final.

Qatar may still hope the Netherlands remains not as good as expected, which almost ended badly in Senegal's hands and was held in a draw by Ecuador.

But Van Gaal may have been strengthened by his flagship, Memphis Depay, who could improve his attacking line performance.

The veteran coach may also be forced to change his midfielder who sometimes could not keep up with Ecuador's defensive game in the second match, which was called center-back Virgil van Dijk like the pitbull who attacked here and there.

"We can also play like that, we have players who can do the same," Van Dijk said. "We have to show something like that here (against Qatar)."

Predictions of the first eleven players

Netherlands (3-4-1-2): Andries Noppert; Jurrien Timber, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake; Denzel Dumfries, Steven Berghuis, Frenkie de Jong, Daley Blind; totaling Gakpo; Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay

Qatar (3-4-1-2): Meshaal Barsham; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan; Ismail Mohammad, Abdelkarim Hatem, Assim Madibo, Hassan Al-Haydos, Homam Ahmed; Almoes Ali, Mohammed Muntari

Important statistics of both teams

Group A's third match is the first match between the two teams.

The draw was more than enough for the Netherlands to qualify for the last 16 which was the eleventh time, whatever the result of Senegal's match against Ecuador.

If the Netherlands loses they will qualify for the second round if Ecuador beats Senegal, but if Senegal wins, then the goal difference or the fairplay tiebreak will determine where the two groups are.

The Netherlands has never won but was runner-up three times in 1974, 1978, and 2010.

Qatar was the first team to be eliminated from the 2022 finals and the second in the World Cup after South Africa which hosted the 2010 edition.

Qatar will try to be the first host to never win in the finals.

Mohammed Muntari made history as the first Qatari player to score in the World Cup when Qatar lost 1-3 against Senegal.